ASTA 267 - GLITTICA

A ROMAN BANDED AGATE INTAGLIO. PORTRAIT OF A YOUTH.

1st century A.D.

10x15x3 mm

Facing left and characterized by his young features, short hair, wide open eye and open mouth. Wear marks.

Provenance: Ex Sangiorgi collection, acquired in the late 19th - early 20th century ; Ex Christie's NY, 06/12/2007, lot 325. This lot is sold under temporary import status.

A ROMAN RED JASPER INTAGLIO SET IN A GOLD RING. BUST OF A YOUTH.

2nd century A.D.

Stone 11x14 mm; int. Size 17x20 mm; 17,14 gr

With rounded hoop extanding in broader shoulders, the oval bezel set with a jasper intaglio showing a Youth portrait facing left. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A LARGE ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO. HEAD OF A MAENAD.

1st century A.D.

13x15x3 mm

Head of a Maenad facing left, with ivy leaves in the hair. Presence of globular elements. Chip on the neck. Wear marks.

Provenance: From a private collection, France, acquired on the London art market 1990s-early 2000s

A ROMAN BLOODSTONE INTAGLIO SET IN A GOLD STICK PIN. FEMALE PORTRAIT.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

Stone 12x18 mm; H max 76 mm; 4,20 gr.

Diademed and draped female bust, facing left. Beautiful variety of bloodstone with vivid red inclusions. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

AN EASTERN ROMAN CHALCEDONY INTAGLIO. PORTRAIT OF A YOUTH.

1st century B.C. - 1st century A.D.

16x19x4 mm

The young character is facing left and characterized by fine features and long wavy hair. Iron traces and wear marks on the surface of the stone. Chip on the edge.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

AN EASTERN ROMAN AMETHYST INTAGLIO. HEAD OF A RULER.

1st-2nd century A.D.

9,5x11,3 mm

The laureated and bearded man is facing left. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO SET IN A GOLD FRAME. MALE PORTRAIT.

1st - 3rd century A.D.

9 x 12 x 4 mm.

Male portrait of a young man in profile to the left. The stone is mounted in a gold frame likely from the 19th century. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection acquired in the british art market.

A ROMAN AMETHYST INTAGLIO SET IN A GOLD RING. MALE PORTRAIT.

1st century A.D.

Stone 11x14 mm; int. diam 13 mm; 6,69 gr.

Portrait of a male character facing right, characterized by a partially bald skull above the forehead. These realistic physiognomic details can be referred to some portraits of Roman characters of the late Republican age, in particular of Cicero and Cato l'Uticense. Fine execution for the small size of the gem. Wear marks. Nice color of the stone.

L.P. Biroli Stefanelli, La Collezione Paoletti, Tome I, tom. III n. 95, 118, tom. IV n. 519.

Provenance: U.K. private collection acquired on the art market.

A RARE ROMAN GOLD RING SET WITH A SAPPHIRE INTAGLIO. PORTRAIT OF A NUBIAN NOBLEWOMAN.

2nd century A.D.

Stone 8x11 mm; int. diam 17 mm; 8,46 gr

With rounded hoop, flatten within, expanding in broader shoulders and flanked with a beautiful and rare sapphire intaglio depicting the portrait of a young Nubian woman. She is characterized by a proeminent short nose, big lips and a very small chin. The bombed fronthead is surmounted by braided hair assembled on the back in a chignon. She wears a cloak. The choice of the stone express the importance and exotism of this portrait, that can be linked to an important social/political position of the Roman Empire elite inthe Eastern provinces. Presence of restoration and tools on the mounting. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private, acquired on the art market 1980s-1990s

A ROMAN GOLD RING WITH A GARNET INTAGLIO. SOCRATES PORTRAIT.

1st-2nd century A.D.

Stone 6x8 mm; int. Size 16x18 mm; 3,30 gr

With rounded hoop, flatten within and expanding upwards surmounted by a small oval grooved bezel set with a garnet intaglio; head of Socrates facing left, characterized by his typical features, partially bold head and short thick beards. Wear marks.

Provenance: From a private collection, France, acquired on the art market in the early 2000s

A ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO. PORTRAIT OF AUGUSTUS.

1st century A.D.

11x15,5x4 mm

The laureated effigy of the emperor faces left. The portrait is characterized by decisive features that express strength and power, with deeply engraved anatomical volumes mirror polished. Beautiful vivid red colour. Wear marks.

Provenance: Formerly in the D.C. collection, London; acquired by an international french collector from the above in the early 2000s.

A FINE ROMAN AGATE INTAGLIO. PORTRAIT OF LIVIA.

End of 1st century B.C. - Early 1st century A.D.

9x12x2 mm

The imperial effigy is turned to the left, and has a draped bust. The profile is characterized by the typical facial features of Livia, with a slightly aquiline nose, small mouth, slightly spherical chin, large eye, delicate and elegant features. The hair is characterized by the typical presence of a double braid above the brow (nodus) which is gathered behind the neck in a bun; the curls escaping from the bands of hair at the side of the face. The hair is finely chiselled with very fine wavy lines. Considering the very small size of the gem and the very high technical quality, it can be considered one of the best intaglio of her portraits in existence. The stone is slightly burnt. Wear marks.

For a very similar portrait, see: the beautiful sardonyx cameo with the portrait of Livia in Leiden, Rijksmuseum. One of Livia's finest portraits. See also. The British Museum database, n. 1867,0507.491 sard intaglio set in a gold ring with an inscription (LEU in Greek). See M. L. Volleinweider, Die portraitgemmen der romischen Republik, tafel 167, and the coinage production of her time.

Provenance: U.K. private collection